The Marijuana Conference Committee Works Down to the Wire on Details of Law

The marijuana conference committee continues to meet behind closed doors to iron out details of the marijuana law. Baker stands by the 6-month extension of the ballot question.

(Published Monday, July 10, 2017)

House and Senate negotiators are once again trying to resolve differences over proposals to revamp the state's voter-approved recreational marijuana law.

Friday's meeting of a six-member conference committee came two weeks after an original deadline set by legislative leaders to reach agreement on a final bill. Lawmakers have apparently been struggling to find common ground on issues including taxes, regulatory oversight and local control.

Democratic Rep. Mark Cusack said before Friday's closed-door session he was optimistic a deal could be struck, but offered no timetable.

A House-passed bill overhauling the law would raise the marijuana tax to 28 percent and give local officials more control over pot shops within their communities. The Senate approved a more modest version on the bill that keeps the tax at the current 12 percent.